Treating textile yarns and products therefrom



A. E. MEYER TREATING TEXTILE YARNS AND PRODUCTS THEREFROM Filed Oct. 5. 1950 .M mm TA. S

INVENTOR /ffr' Patented Nov, 1, 1938 UNITED lSTATES PATENT oli-Fica Fabrics Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corl poration of New York Application October 3,

'I'his invention relates to the treatment of tex-y tile yarns and products therefrom. I t is directed in certain of its phases to an improved process for sizing twisted yarn. It is also applicable to 5 the production of detwisted yarns and as so employed is'an' improvement in methodsand products described in my Letters Patent No. 1,295,821, granted February 25, 1919, and No. 1,743,722, granted January 14, 1930. i l

One of the objects of thisinvention is to provide a novel and emcient process for treating textile yarn, for the introduction of sizing therein. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved process lfor giumming or sizing twisted yarn which is to be detwisted so as to secure a superior tensile strength and-uniformity in the detwisted yarn. vThe invention consists in the novel methods of treating the yarn which are hereinafter set forth according to the manner of practicing the same which I now prefer, and in the resulting improved yarn and fabrics. The invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The improved sizing process which I prefer to employ involves the winding of the yarn into a package or cheese, which is preferably a somewhat thick-walled holio'wr lcylinder of the yarn. The process of dyeing yarn in such a package is well known and is outside of the presno one has ever successfully attempted to carry out the application of asizing material to yarn while in the package. It was not to be expected that a viscous sizing solution could be made to penetrate the package in such manner as to 1mpregnate and coat the yarn throughout the many layers of the package, in which the relativelyv small diameter textile yarn is wound so closely as to make a very dense package, with very ne spaces or interstices through which the viscous solution could pass; and for this reason the relatively expensive and large space-occupying slasher apparatus has been in general use in the l textile industry for sizing yarns for weaving.

It was surprising to discover, after much experimentation and discouragement, that in accordance with my present invention sizing materials can be made to penetratethe package of yarn in such manner as to eiectively coat even the innermost portions of the package.

I have also found that VJin producing sized detwisted yarns in accordance with vmy above-mentioned patents, that I can obtain much superior ent invention. So far as I am aware, however,

1930, Serial No. 486,072

detwisted yarns whether sized by the old slasher method or by the new package. method, the hydroflling nevertheless has special advantages and cooperative function when used in combination with the package sizing,'because it renders the yarn so readily penetrable by the sizing that the yarn in the innermost layers of the package will be impregnated suiiiciently as to extent and uniformity, even for theexacting requirements of a textile yarn to bedetwisted for weaving, i. e., a textile yarnY oi' the character to which my former patents relate. Furthermore, by carrying out. the hydroling and the sizing with the yarn in package form, it is possible to give the yarn both treatments without unwinding it from the package so that the detwisting may be carried on from the package in which the yarn was wound in a raw state, and this greatly reduces the cost of producing this detwisted yarn.

I have found that ii' the size is applied directly to the yarn, i. e., before hydroiiling, the size under the microscope appears to be somewhat unevenly distributed on the fibres themselves and does not penetrate between the bres ofthe yarn sumciently for the exacting requirements of detwisted yarn; so that vwhen the yarn is detwisted the size coating separates, exposing, when microscopically examined, portions of the detwisted yarn with little if any sizing adhering thereto, while other portions of the detwisted yarn have a. considerable amount of size adherlid ing, thus giving an uneven distribution oi the size. This results in a more or less ununifonn detwlsting which is bad for the resulting fabric by making it spotty, and it also results in lack of uniform tensile strength in detwisted yarn, `the tensile strength of which is mainly due to the size in the yarn, and this lack oi uniformity of tensile strength will increase the chances of breakage of the yarn in weaving.

I have discovered in accordance with my invention that a uniform distribution of the sizel can be made by rst treating the yarn with an agent for dissolving the incrustations on the yarn. I have determined that the ordinary cleansing agents, such as soda and the like, are not satisfactory for this purpose and in accordance with my invention I use a bath which I will describe more in detail below, including a. sulphonated oil such as Turkey red oil. I call this treatment in the bath a hydroling treatment or a treatment by a hydroling agent, and I iind on treating cotton yarn with this hydrofiling agent that the` yarn which previously when dropped on the surface of a bath of water, will oat forgan indefinite period, when hydrofiled or treated with this hydrofiling agent, will sink almost immediately to the bottom of the water showing that the oils .or waxes or other incrustations present on the surface of the untreated yarnhave been removed by this hydroling .treatment and the yarn given a greater aiiinity for liquids.

I prefer.` to carry out this hydroiiling treatment on the yarn package, and thereafter while the yarn package is still in position in the apparatus for this treatment, I introduce size into the package. While I prefer to hydrofile the yarn in the package I wish it understood that the broader aspect of the invention is not to be thus limited for the fibers may be hydroled before yarn formation as in the raw state, rovings or sliver in package form or otherwise. In the claims where the context permits I Wish it understood that where reference is made to applying the hydroi'lling agent tothe yarn, or to a hydroled yarn it is to be understood to cover the application of the hydroling agent to the bers before or after they are incorporated in the yarn. I find as a result of this treatment that the size coats the bre uniformly, not only lying onthe surface but actually penetrating the yarn, i. e. between the bres themselves. The yarn so treated is especially adapted for my detwisting processes and when I employ the yarn treated in this way, in the detwisting process which I preferably carry out on the moistened yarn under some tension in the manner described in my prior patents mentioned, I find that there is no separation of the starch coating in the manner mentioned above where the starch was applied without the hydroling treatment. On the contrary I find that after detwisting practically all of the portions of the yarn are uniformly coated with the starch. 'Ihis eifect may be clearly seen under the microscope where upon staining the size, for example when starch is used, with a dilute solution of iodine, and then detwisting, the yarn shows under the microscope a series of blue and white spiral bands like a barber pole, showing the presence and absence of the starch. The stained yarn where hydroling has occurred shows under the microscope, a substantially uniform blue color all over and no barber pole effect.

In order to make the invention` clearer I have included herewith a drawing of an apparatus `for carrying out the treatments of the yarn and also representations of two photomicrographs of yarn treated with the starch size and stainedV with and without hydroling.

In this drawing, Fig. 1 represents a strand of cotton yarn treated with starch and stained and detwisted through part of its length but without hyd-raming, the spiral bands of blue showing that the strand has not been uniformly coated with size; Fig. 2 shows a similar strand of cotton yarn treated with starch size stained and detwisted through part of its length, the starch having been applied after hydrolling, the uniform blue stainA indicating an even distribution of the starch sizing; and Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross-section of an apparatus for -package treatment of yarn with diagrammatic showings of outside connections to a pump and tank for carrying out the treatment in this apparatus.

Referring now to this drawing, the numeral I indicates a kettle of the type which has been heretofore used for package dyeing. Where high pressures and viscous liquids are employed for impregnation in the package, I consider it advisable to increase the size of the pipes and to make the walls of the apparatus thicker than employed in the package dyeing. The kettle isy supported by suitable legs 2. It comprises a removable top 3 and a bottom 4, which bottom supports an interior false bottom 5. Mounted on this false bottom is a series of perforated tubes 6 which communicate with the space between the bottom 4` and the false bottom 5, except for a por tion of this space which is occupied by a pipe 'I communicating with the center of the kettle. A pipe 8 adjoins this pipe 1 and communicates with the space between the bottoms just mentioned except that occupied by the pipe 'I.

The packages or cheeses of yarn 9 which are to be sized directly or hydroled and then sized,- which as previously mentioned are preferably in the form of hollow cylinders, are mounted in columns one on top of the other about the perforated tubes 6. The top plates I0 with inverted spindles are laid on top of each column of packages with the inverted spindle projecting down into the perforated holders. When so mounted the diameters of the cheeses are such that spaces are vleft between/the series of cheeses suflicient to allow the free passage of liquid pumped through pipe 8 and through the 4perforated pipes 6 into and through the cheeses to their outer surfaces. The liquid pumped through the cheeses passes tothe space therearound and thenceto the center of the kettlefrom which it exits to the pipe 1.

'I'he cover 3 is `held in place by hinged bolts II and when lowered into place springs I2 press against the tops of the columns so that when the cover is clamped in position each package in the kettle is compressed to about the same extent.

The sizing operation alone or hydroling and sizing are. completed in this kettle. In order to supply the hydroling liquid and/or sizing liquid to the kettle a tank or tanks I3 are provided for holding either or both of these liquids. Liquid supplied from the kettle I3 can be pumped into the center of the kettle I and from there through the packages into the perforated tubes and back through the pump, or can -be pumped in the opposite direction so that it passes into the perforated tubes, out through the packages and out of the kettle back to the pump, the direction of ow being governed by the valves indicated below. l

Piping leading through a suitable valve and pump are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 for providing the ow of liquid to and from the kettle. For this purpose a pipe I4 leads from thebottom of kettle I3 to a pump I5 thence through a pipe I6 to a valve I 1, through the passage I8 of this valve and pipe I9 to the entrance to pipe 1. With the ow from the pump in this manner the liquid passes into the kettle rising about the outside of the columns of packages 9 and then through the packages into the perforated tubes, down through the perforated tubes into the space under the false bottom 5 and out through' the exit pipeA 8; returning through pipe 28 to the valve I'I, passing through the passage 2I in/,this valve and thence by pipe 22 back to the'line I4 leading to the pump I5. After having passed with'the direction of ow indicated for a certain period, the ow may be reversed by moving the valve I'I so that the passages I8 and `2| occupy the dotted positions shown. Under these circumstances the liquid `is pumped from the tank I3 through the line I6, then through the passage I8, then through the line 28 t0 the entrance 8 to the space beneath the bottom 5, thence up through the perforated tube \6 and out throughthe columns o f the cheeses 9 into the space surrounding the columns and thence out of the kettle through the pipe `Iv and then through pipe I9 through passage in dotted lines 2| to the line 22 and back to the pump I5.` In order tov test the result of treatment in the kettle I, strands of yarn from one of the packages S are led up through an opening 23. A steam or air inlet 24 and an outlet 25 for steam condensate, air or hydro-filing liquid mentioned below are-preferably provided.

In carrying out my process I Wind cotton yarn which may contain the usual waxes or incrustations into packages such as those designated as 9 in Fig. 3 and these packages are then placed in the kettle I as columns about the perforated tubes 6. The cover is then placed on the kettle in the manner indicated and thetank I3 is provided with a liquid required for treating the'yarn. If the yarn is simply to be sized, as may be desired, where there is to be no detwisting operation later, I place a size-solution such as 298- pounds of sago flour to 30 pints of sulphonated castor oil and about 3200pounds of Water in the tank I3. The valve I'I is then moved so that liquid will pass from the pump to the line 20 into the interior of the columns through the packages and to the exterior thereof and then out through the kettle, and pumping of the size along this path is then started. The pressure employed in pumping the size through the packages willherein I have obtained satisfactory results with upwards of 70 lbs. per square inch pressure. After pumping the liquid at a suitable pressure to circulate it in the initial direction for a period of several minutes, the length of time depending on the type of yarn and size used and the pressure employed in driving the size through the yarn, I move the valve so that the ow is in the opposite direction and the size then ows through the exteriors of the columns 9 to the interior thereof through the pipes 6, out through the pipe B andv back to the pump. I circulate the size in this manner for a short while and then again reverse the direction of ow continuing until a desired impregnation of the yarn has been obtained for the purpose desired. The sizing by this method is not entirely uniform throughout the entire package, and I have found that the yarn in the middle of the package is not as well sized as the yarn on the exterior and interior portion. For many purposes, however, such `as to provide a protective coating for weaving, the sizing is quite satisfactory and possesses the advantage over the old slasher method of sizing that it can be conducted more quickly and less expensively. However, as stated, yarn sized in the package as described and also that sized on the slasher, is not entirely satisfactory, where the yarn is to be detwisted and woven, unless the yarn is first hydroled.

When yarn gummed or sized Without hydrofiling is detwisted, it is found that the size isv distributed along the exterior surface and does not sufficiently penetrate between the fibres themselves so that if this type of yarn is detwisted it will usually show when stained and placed under the microscope a barber pole effect like that shown in Fig. 1.

I have found that a substantially uniform coating and impregnation of size can be produced by hydroiiling the yarn prior to treatment 'with size. Such hydroling treatment Ihave found improves `the tensile strength and other characteristics of the resultant yarn, whether the sizing be conducted by means of the package or cheese proce-s described or by the slasher method of sizing, and thehydrofled yarn so produced is useful as such or is especially useful for producing a detwisted yarn in accordance with my methods of detwisting heretofore set forth in my liquid, the packages are steamed by introducing steam through the pipe 24 under about 15l pounds per square inch or thereabouts. The Valve il is then opened and the pump I5 started to pump the hydroling solution through the packages. It is immaterial Whether the pumping start so that the liquids flow from the inside of the packages to their outside or'vice versa. The liquid in this case takes one or the other of the paths described above and then upon re-setting the valve the other'path is followed so that the liquid passes in opposite directions back and forth alternately through the packages for a sufficient length of time.

To determine Whether the yarn has been properly hydroled, a bit of test yarn is taken out through the test hole 23 and dried. A little bundle of the dried yarn, perhaps the length of say 24 inches, is then loosely coiled into a loop about an inch and a half long and put on the top of a bath of water at'room temperature. If

the yarn is fully hydrofiled, it Willbe wetted by the water almost immediately, and in a short interval, not over two or three minutes, it will sink to the bottom of the vessel containing the water.

After hydroling, compressedair may be introduced through the pipe 2d andthe hydroling liquid blown out through the pipe 25 where it may be collected, strengthened by addition of small quantity of soda ash and sulphonated castor oil to be used over again. After blowing with air to remove all of the hydrofiling liquid, and hydroling liquid having been removed from-the tank I3, there is placed in the tank I3 a sizing liquid having the following formula: 298 pounds of sago iiour to 30 pints of sulphonated castor oil and about 3200 pounds of water. understood, of course, that the hydrofiling and sizing liquids mentioned may be replaced by others giving similar results and I do not to restrict myself to the proportions or materials here mentioned. After placing the sizing liquid in the tank and all the hydroling liquid having been removed from the pump and the kettle con-- to produce a detwisted yarn,- I take the yarn on the packages and brush and partly dry it-if desired. I then take out a substantial amount or all of the twist as may bedesired the particu- It will be' lar instance, depending on the size only or in part to hold the fibers together so as to give the yarn its necessary strength for use in forming fabrics of the interlaced strand type. The twist is taken out in any way desired as by placing the cop in a twisting frame and rotating it in a direction to untwist the yarn. The gummed or sized yarn is preferably tackyv at the time of or subsequent to the detwisting whereby its tensile strength is considerably improved. The detwisting operations and the conditioning of the yarn at or subsequent to the time of the detwisting have been more fully set forth in my patents referred to above.

Thus while I have described my improvements in detail and with respect to certain preferred forms, I do not desire to be limited to such details or forms since, as will be noticed by those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, many changes and modifications may be made and the invention embodied in Widely different forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof in its broader aspects, and I desire to cover all modifications, forms and improvements coming within the scope of any one v or more of the appended claims.

I Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:- c

1 The method of treating textile 'yarn which comprises taking a hollow package of yarn and placing it in communication with a source of supplyof an aqueous solution of soda and sulphonated oil, forcing said solution through said package under pressure until a piece of the dried yarn when placed on water will sink in a few minutes, removing the excess of hydroling agent from the package of yarn, passing a sizing solution through the so treated package of yarn under pressure, and detwlsting the resulting yarn.

2. The method of treating textile yarn which comprises taking ahollow package of yarn and placing it in communication with a source of supply of an aqueous solution of soda and sulphonated oil, forcing said solution through said package under pressure until a piece of the dried yarn when placed on water Will sink in a few minutes, removing the excess of hydroflling agent from the package of yarn, and passing a 

